James will play the lead role of drug-abusing promotion-seeking policeman Bruce Robertson, while Jamie will be his young partner Lennox and Alan will star as beleaguered police chief Bob Toal.

The film is to be directed by Jon S. Baird at the request of the author, while Irvine - whose books 'Trainspotting' and 'The Acid House' have previously been adapted for the big screen, with another, 'Ecstacy', set for release later this year - will act as producer.

Irvine told The Playlist: "Jon and I hit it off and became good friends. I've been trying to Filth made with different producers and directors for years. Jon did a revised screenplay which was absolutely brilliant: he's captured and kept the essence of the main protagonist but he's done a lot of interesting things with it as well. He's kind of rendered it very, very cinematic and it's going to make a great film with that cast."